Maternity Choices Australia, through its various platforms (email, social media groups and pages, direct contact with our maternity consumer reps, national, local and topic-based committees and via our website) have been receiving regular inquiries and comments regarding the drastic changes to maternity care during the COVID-19 period. 

We are acutely aware of the current fragmented nature of maternity care in Australia, where over 98% of women give birth in a hospital environment and less than 30% have true continuity of care. Continuity of care means that the person accessing maternity health services sees the same person or small team of people for the duration of their maternity care and across the perinatal continuum.

Fragmented care leads to poorer outcomes for mothers, babies, the care providers and the public purse. It also increases interventions and leads to poorer reporting and recording of mothers, babies and care provider experiences.  

This model of care is cited globally and in current, grade A evidence to be one of the best models of care, leading to better outcomes for mothers, babies, care providers and the public purse. Out of 100% of maternity health consumers in Australia, less than 10% have access to true Midwifery Continuity of Carer or Midwifery led-carer. 

For Midwifery continuity of carer to be true, the person accessing this model of care must have access to relationship-based care in a continuity model with a midwife of their choice. The care needs to be provided throughout the continuum of the perinatal period - during pregnancy, the labour and birth itself, immediately after childbirth and the first few days and weeks post birth. 

Maternity Choices Australia has a long-standing commitment to promoting, discussing and advocating for human rights in childbirth. We work with consumers, academia, government and other bodies to bring to light this important matter. 

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CHECK OUT HUMAN RIGHTS SUBMISSION

This year MCA has teamed up with three other not for profit maternity and motherhood advocacy groups in light of international maternal mental health matters day.
OUR MOTHERS MATTER, their wellbeing matters. Along with these organisations we have made a commitment to bring important discussions to mothers, parents, family, community and care providers that bring to light some of the most pressing matters for mothers and a working group - Maternal Mental Health Matters Australia was established on the first Wednesday of May, 2020.

Midwives have an important role in addressing domestic and family violence, as a history of violence before pregnancy is one of the strongest predictors of pregnancy violence.  For some women the frequency and intensity of violence often increases during pregnancy.

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READ THE STUDY HERE